Pressure is defined as force per unit area. The dimensions of force are ML^1T^-2, and area is L^2, thus pressure has dimensions ML^-1T^-2.
Questions & Step-by-step Solutions
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Q
Q: What are the dimensions of pressure?
Solution: Pressure is defined as force per unit area. The dimensions of force are ML^1T^-2, and area is L^2, thus pressure has dimensions ML^-1T^-2.
Steps: 7
Step 1: Understand that pressure is defined as force divided by area.
Step 2: Know the formula for pressure: Pressure = Force / Area.
Step 3: Identify the dimensions of force. Force is measured in mass (M) times acceleration (which is length (L) divided by time squared (T^2)). So, the dimensions of force are ML^1T^-2.
Step 4: Identify the dimensions of area. Area is measured in length times length, which gives us L^2.
Step 5: Substitute the dimensions of force and area into the pressure formula: Pressure = (ML^1T^-2) / (L^2).
Step 6: Simplify the dimensions: ML^1T^-2 divided by L^2 equals ML^(1-2)T^-2, which simplifies to ML^-1T^-2.
Step 7: Conclude that the dimensions of pressure are ML^-1T^-2.
